Although voting discrimination based on race has been illegal since the passage of the 15th amendment over 135 years ago, and those efforts were bolstered in 1965 with the historic Voting Rights Act, today’s racial minorities still face discrimination.

Members of racial minority groups are more likely to cast ballots with outdated voting machines, deal with overly complicated registration procedures, or face complicated ballots. Every election, some minority neighborhoods are plastered with fliers and leaflets that include misinformation about Election Day and outright lies about election policies. Fliers have told voters that Republicans vote on one day, while Democrats vote on another. Others remind voters to pay all outstanding parking tickets and child support, with the implication that failing to do so could result in being thrown in jail or not being allowed to vote. The sole purpose of such efforts is to intimidate voters and suppress turnout.

Voter intimidation may be impossible to eradicate,
but by establishing clear and uniform electoral policies and guidelines,
much can be done to limit the effectiveness of any voter suppression
effort.

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law reports that Florida's new "no match, no vote" law could disenfranchise tens of thousands of eligible citizens from registering and voting in the 2008 elections.